Curly's Daughter Recalls The Stooges--nyuk, Nyuk, Nyuk

Janie Howard Hanky was just a toddler when her famous "Stooge" father, Jerome "Curly" Howard, died.

But the Westminster resident stillhas memories and favorite stories to tell of her dad and uncles Moe and Shemp.

"I was only 3 1/2 years old when my dad passed away," she recalled. "I have vague memories, like his facial expressions, things he would do to try and make me laugh."

Hanky, who has lived in Westminster for the last 15 years, will share some of her stories of the ThreeStooges this weekend at FANEX 5, the Horror and Fantasy Film Expo atthe Sheraton North in Towson, Baltimore County.

The festival willbegin at 10 a.m. Saturday, with the last movie scheduled to end at 3a.m. Events begin Sunday at 10 a.m. and continue through 5 p.m. Admission is $20 for both days or $15 per day.

Hanky will give a presentation on the Three Stooges at 1 p.m. Saturday and greet fans and sign autographs at noon Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.

"Typically, whatI do in my presentation is a slide show and then follow up with a question-and-answer period," she said. "I also try to give some background on the Three Stooges to familiarize those that do not know much about them.

"I think it will be very interesting, and it will give me the opportunity to share some of the things I know about the ThreeStooges."

Hanky, who began speaking publicly about the Three Stooges eight years ago, was encouraged by her 15-year-old daughter, Kelly, to tell people about her connection to the wacky trio.

"It was funny, I never really talked about my father that much or told anyonethat he was Curly of the Three Stooges," said Hanky. "It wasn't until one day in the early 1980s when I took my daughter to see "Cinderella" at the movies. There was a Three Stooges film short that played before the movie, and I told her that Curly was her grandfather.

"Ever since then, my daughter wanted to talk about him and she wanted me to tell people about him."

Hanky began working with her cousin, Joan (Moe's daughter), in 1983 during a resurgence of interest in theThree Stooges.

"This was about the time the Three Stooges received their star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. I had become involved with my cousin, helping her put together information for the 'Curly' book she was beginning to write," Hanky said.

She has made numerous appearances throughout the country, broadcast on radio and television and become a regular guest at the annual Three Stooges Convention, which she attended for the fifth time in July near Philadelphia.

Hanky, who works with Kelly Temporary Services in Baltimore County, found her travels have been as enjoyable to her as to Stooges fans.

"Ienjoy it a lot," she said. "The most rewarding thing is the feedbackI get from the people.

"The enjoyment the Three Stooges have given them is something they don't forget. Their comedy is timeless; to start that long ago and still be funny."

FANEX 5 is sponsored by the Baltimore Horror and Fantasy Film Society. Films, panel discussions, autograph sessions and guest stars are part of the event, which will present movie classics from 1930 to 1960.

Other guests include John Agar, Yvette Vickers and science fiction producer Richard Gordon.